Boot Camp for New Dads is Recipient of Annie E. Casey Foundation Grant

Boot Camp for New Dads (BCND) was awarded a $15,000 grant, which will be used to expand the BCND website to provide fatherhood educational materials to new fathers, heath care and social services professionals.

The grant will also enable BCND to provide direct technical assistance on best practices in supporting new fathers to BCND affiliates in 42 states. With technical assistance, the affiliates will be able to successfully implement proven strategies in childbirth education, infant care and postpartum depression.

Greg Bishop, founder and Head Coach of Boot Camp for New Dads explained, “We are grateful to receive the Annie E. Casey grant for it will help us to further enhance our Boot Camp programs across the nation, and in turn, better prepare men for the exciting new journey of fatherhood.”

Celebrating their 16th year, Boot Camp for New Dads’ mission is to help new dads face both the challenges and opportunities of fatherhood through workshops which provide them with “hands on” education in the care of their babies. Men attend the class when they are expecting their first baby, and are joined in the workshop by “veterans” who had previously attended and have returned with their two to four-month-old baby in tow. They are able to give the dads-to-be a realistic idea of what to do and what to expect when their first baby comes. Research from Princeton University has shown that “birth is a magical moment” and men are most receptive to information on establishing good habits as dads in the months surrounding the birth of their babies.

With more than 4.1 million births last year alone (National Center for Health Statistics), and approximately 1.5 million men becoming new dads every year, it’s more important than ever for fathers to realize that being a “good provider” is only part of the very central role they have in their children’s lives. Bishop continued, “These guys are inspiring and should make all men proud, because once they understand how much they are needed, they deliver the goods.”

Annie E. Casey Foundation
The Annie E. Casey Foundation was founded in 1948 with the goal of building better futures for the nation’s disadvantaged children and their families. For more information, visit the website at www.aecf.org.


For more information about Boot Camp for New Dads, visit www.bcnd.org. To arrange an interview with Greg Bishop, please contact sdubin@prworkzone.com, (781) 582-1061.